“I play Handball already my entire life. It means friendship, social values and just fun to me.“

Matti volunteered for 5 months at “PLAY HANDBALL ZA” in Cape Town. He taught handball at two schools, the public primary school St. Mary’s and the German school in the afternoon area. In Cape Town he lived with a family from Zimbabwe in Woodstock.

PLAY HANDBALL: Why is handball important for you and what did it gave/ gives you?

Matti Schubert: I play Handball already my entire life. It means friendship, social values and just fun to me.

PLAY HANDBALL: How did you heard about PLAY HANDBALL ZA?

Matti Schubert: I found it in connection with “Jugend im Ausland” via “weltwärts”.

PLAY HANDBALL: Why did you decided to become a Handball Volunteer in South Africa?

Matti Schubert: Handball and South Africa… Any other questions?

PLAY HANDBALL: How long have you been now a handball volunteer in South Africa?

Matti Schubert: I was in South Africa since the 25th of October and stayed until March 2018.

PLAY HANDBALL: Tell us something about your volunteer experience so far.

Matti Schubert: Volunteering abroad means to forget everything you´ve learned about German standards and behavior, you have to find your own way.

PLAY HANDBALL: What was the most memorable experience?

Matti Schubert: Driving with 7 People in one, small car, 12 hours to east London to play a one day tournament.

PLAY HANDBALL: What was the greatest challenge until now?

Matti Schubert: Every Day in school was the greatest challenge.

PLAY HANDBALL: How do you experience the handball coaching at school/ community?

Matti Schubert: The children have difficulties to learn such a complex sport because generally there are no basic sportive skills taught at all. But they really try and it is fun to train with them. Like I said: Don´t expect German standards.

PLAY HANDBALL: Do you think your work has an impact?

Matti Schubert: I hope so, maybe not about the sport itself but I try to give them values I learned in handball when I was younger.

PLAY HANDBALL: How is the life with a local South African host family?

Matti Schubert: Its possibly the experience with the highest impact on my own personality. The lifestyle differs in many points and it was and still is a challenge to assimilate.